Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-19
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
REQUEST OF A COMMITTEE From DIS
TRIcr ASSEMBLY "a.
They Want the Council Committee to
Choose the Workmen on the
New City Hall.

DCNlnt, appt"icN pStNiS 'HS
tee in connection with City-Hall work.
On the 9th of April the Council COM
mittee received the following letter:
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY No. ~, X. or LII
OFFICE OF DISTRICT MASTER WORKNAS. Z
RICHMOND, VA, April 6, l66.
Peace and Property TO the Faithful. ~
Tho7na, y. RendleY, Esq, Chairman Committee
on Grounds and buildings:
Dear sir.-At the Iast regular meeting OF
District Assembly No. 81, X. Of l., was sp-
pointed by resolution chairman Of a committee
of three 10 appear before your committee on
matters Of importance. Will be under ooil-
cations TO you TO state what time aud place y
viii be your pleasure 70 meet our committee
conference. Hoping II may be your pleasure
TO reply as early a. possible; am, yours trniy'
Chairman Committee District Assembly ST.
The committee sent the following re-
ply: -
CITY ENGISEER's OrFIcE,l
April -, 1857. (
WH'icl, n. I'viicn. Esq., Chairman Conmitfsc
D,shfct Asssmbig 81. X. oTL.:
Dear Sir,-Your communication. dated April
Gl, relative 10 meeting the Committee on
CroLucs and Buildings. was laid before our
committee at their meeting last evening, ana
! am directed to say that the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings will DC pleased 10
meet your committee on next Monday eve
ding nj 6.l5 O'Clock az their regulac meeting III
this Office. Very truly yours,
Clerk Of Committee.
Hence the Labor committee last
night.
HR. MULLEN spEARs.
Upon an invitation, Mr.. Mullen rose
and said their object in appearing, as
representatives of the assembly, was
TO request the committee to rescind its
action placing in the hands of the City
Engineer the appointment of men TO
work on the new City Hall. Mr.. Null
len SAID the Knights Of Labor had been
Disseminated against in the employ
ment of hands and foremen. The
Knights Of Labor had put the present
Council into Office and had taken the
filst steps in building the City Hall, and
they felt an interest IN the work.
MR. DEvIHR NEXT.
Mr.. Devine followed Mr.. Mullen.
He wished to have such labor on the
work as would rebound to the credit OF
the party that instigated the COM
mencement of the building. He de
sired the work to be conducted by
organized labor, and "if it is not he
asserted, "we will put men into Office
who will. We represent the people.
We have the people behind MS. We
don't cast any reflection on anybody.
We only wish every committeeman to
DO his duty. We only ask that the
order he rescinded so that the commit
tee will have power to appoint. We
don't come here as n big railros'l
corporation, in royal array, but We
are poor workmen. / have just laid
down my hammer We represent the
sons and daughters of men whose bones
are strewn over your battlc-helds."
MR.. TUCKER CONCLUDES.
Mr.. Tucker said he did not think he
could add anything to what had
already been said. The Knights Of La
bCr took pride in the new building,
and they did not wish to see any labor
troubles or anything to interfere with
its building to completion.
THE LIE GIVEN.
Mr.. Ammons stated that Colonel Gut
shaw recommended the men for the diff
ferent departments of work and the
committee confirmed the choice.
On his own behalf Mr.. NetherwoOd,
who has charge of the stone-work on
he new building, said he had never
made any distinction in employing men.
If the knights of Labor claimed he had
he denounced such a statement as lie.
Mr. Mullen said the committee wac in
possession of facts to prove It's asser-
tons.
Mr.. Pizzini What is the charge
you make? / would like to know eX-
actly what it IS.
Alr. Mullen: "Mr. Netherwood has
Disseminated against q man because he
held Reform tickets on electiOn-day. "
Mr.. Netherwood THAT is lie"
Mr.. Mullen: " Mr.. Chairman, I do
not understand the gentleman to call
me lie. If had | would have spit
in his face. l say We can prove what
we say"
Mr.. Mullen also said that man
named Ryan had repeatedly applied for
work on the City Hall, but had never
succeeded in getting a job until he left
the knights of Labor, and the next day
after he left them he got work.
COLONEL CUTsHAw SPEAKS.
Mr.. Devine asked Colonel Cutshaw il
any of the foremen on the City-Hall
work were knights of Labor.
Colonel Cutshaw did not know of
apy. There were several sub-foremen.
ii ask no man whether he is a union
man or non-union man, OF knight
of Labor or not a Knight of Labor. In
fact, when men come to me for employ
ment l studiously avoid any such ques-
tion."
Mr.. Devine then pointedly asked {:
Colonel, do you favor labor organiza-
tions 2"
The Colonel replied that be thought
all laboring-men had right to form
into organizations for their own govern
ment. but he did not think they should
interfere with others or attempt to die
tate to those in charge of the work.
Mr.. Mullen Don't you dictate to
Mr. Netherwood ?"
The City Engineer answered afirma-
lively.
"Well," Mr.. Mullen continued, edo
you think you have any more right to
dictate to him than a labor organiza-
tion ?"
Colonel Cutshaw replied that he
thought he did, as he had charge of the
work. He further said if anybody
would show him any instance of any
man having been refused employment
because he was Knight of Labor he
would use his authority to put such
man into placr.
MR. sSEAD SPEAKS OUT BOLDLY.
Mr.. Snead said he wished to state be-
fore the committee adjourned that he
had watched the work on the City Hall
carefully. He had not gotten his in
formation from the City Engineers
office, but had been amongst the men,
and he conld Faithfully say he knew OF
no such discrimination as was claimed.
In every instance where men who were
employed had been discharged he had
found il to be because such men were
incompetent workmen. Mr.. Snead
then moved to adjourn, which the COM